Go See a Show

The renowned music industry blogger Bob Lefsetz wrote a piece “Let The Clubs Close” about the futility of saving small live music clubs. In his opinion, nobody wants to see new, undeveloped acts live anyway on small stages, so why bother? People discover music online and then go to see them live when they play in big arenas. He lists a batch of borderline dystopian, “harsh truths” that leave you either sad or angry.

He closes the newsletter with “Let’s think forward, not back.” Agreed. We must think about the future we want, not the one that a few technology companies have laid out for us for their own benefit.

In Bob’s view, we experience life through a screen, leaving the streets to Amazon trucks and delivery bikes and going out occasionally to see the glittery show of a superstar with thousands of other people. However, turns out, this is not what makes us happy!

While supporting small venues with a tax on the bigger ones may not be the smartest idea, we must ensure that our cities don’t become cultural wastelands and encourage people to create and perform music, whether they become stars or not. Today, kids may prefer TikTok and Instagram over the live experience, but that will inevitably change again. Let’s ensure that there still will be enough opportunities to see emerging artists performing live in front of a live audience of 30, 100, or 200 people because nothing beats that unique moment.

If Ideal and the Neue Deutsche Welle piqued your interest, Bandcamp gives you a broader overview of the movement in the article Neue Deutsche Welle: When Germany Surfed the New Wave, complete with a streamable playlist.

Lastly, here’s the new video by glamglare favorite Lily Hain. It came out last Friday, and while it is about being disillusioned about life in the big city, it fits well with last week’s mood.

glamglare favorites

Listen to glamglare favorites on Spotify or below on YouTube.

Going through the festival announcements is a favorite pastime here at glamglare. These days, they make it easy with playlists like this one from the SXSW Festival next March. This week’s five songs are from artists that caught my ear while casually browsing the list.

Vanessa Zamora is a Mexican/American singer/songwriter from Tijuana who has released music since 2012. The Austrian duo Cari Cari builds their intricate songs around drums, guitars, and a didgeridoo. We have known the Australian punk rock band Bakers Eddy for years, so it is good to see them going to Austin again. The LA-based German singer/songwriter Ava Vegas is enchanting on stage, so don’t miss her if you go to SXSW. MADELINE is a London singer, songwriter, and producer who does soulful, jazzy pop for your dreams.

Song Pick of the Day

Listen to/watch all seven songs on YouTube. Follow our daily updated playlists on YouTube and Spotify for the 50 latest Song Pick of the Day features or subscribe here to receive them into your mailbox in real-time. Thank you for following us and sharing the excitement.

• Esme Bridie - Boys In Bands
• Foley Street - Bulletproof
• Natalie Bouloudis - Dream River
• Our Girl - Who Do You Love
• Helen Ganya - Share Your Care
• Peri Rae - You Drove An Hour Trip
• Hannah Stone - I Won’t Hold It Against You

New Albums Out This Week

If you need an antidote for the post-summer blues, you only have to wait until tomorrow. Claude Fontaine is a singer/songwriter from Los Angeles, but you would not know from her latest album La Mer: she sings in English, French and Portuguese, and has assembled a crew of renowned musicians to conjure up a warm, romantic fantasy world.

Nine Photos of Veteran’s Day in Central Park

With Oliver having a spontaneous day off, we decided to head to Central Park. We strolled through the Central Park Zoo’s outdoor exhibits and later enjoyed the re-opened pond’s tranquility despite the busy flow of passersby. The buildings on Central Park South reflected beautifully in The Pond and made me, for a little while, forget about New York’s draught or what’s going on in the country. Then, when a man set up his transportable piano nearby, I thought, “Only in New York.” Then again, you might find this in London or Paris too. Enjoy!